Chine Logs Fitted!

Well after much sweat, some blood and almost tears, the final chine log goes into place. Maybe it would have been just as easy to fit them as one unit rather than half size them. Who knows? The steamer worked out great in the end; once steamed and clamped for 24 hours the logs were (relatively) easy to remove glue and re-clamp. So now they are all glued up and nailed in place. The only small problem is I broke a drill bit whilst drilling the pilot holes. I'm going to have to recover this from deep inside the log. I'm undecided how best to do this yet. I may try and drill from the inside and punch the bit through with a pin punch. It's a job that can wait for an idle few minutes!

Fitting the final chine log

Fitting tank dividers

A Cracking Time!

Well, Chine Logs are fun - not. While I waited for the glue on the split log to cure I had another go at installing another chine log. This is a seriously tortured piece of wood,bending in all three planes! With a lot of effort and many clamps I was actually able to get it into place and subsequently removed for final gluing. So one half thickness chine log installed. Now back to the broken log. I wanted this piece to be laminated between the hull and it's paired partner. I started to install it, almost had it in, and as I turned my back to pick up another clamp, "crack" it broke in two more (different) places!

In despair I epoxied the log back together again (it's now a 4 piece log!) and let it set up for one last try before it goes for firewood. With the good chine log installed I managed to bend it's matching partner into place and trim to size, although it was groaning loudly.I took it back out, but have not got round to gluing in yet.

Today I decided on a different strategy. Many years ago my wife acquired a steam cleaner which has been languishing unused in the garage for many a day. I resurrected it, brushed off the cobwebs and filled with water. I placed the chine log in a length of drainage downpipe, pushed the steamer nozzle inside, blocked up the ends with plastic bags and turned on the steamer. The steamer tank lasts about 15 minutes, during which time I left the log to cook. Working quickly I withdrew the "well done" log and quickly started to install in the hull. This was a different piece of wood. It was more like a piece of rubber! It just fell into place with minimal pressure. I've left it all clamped up and in place where it will probably remain until the weekend before I get round to gluing it. I'm hoping that it will "remember" it's shape so that it will be easy to remove glue and reinstall. I'm not sure how epoxy would take to warm damp wood if I were to steam it again. I intend to steam the remaining logs and pre bend them in a similar fashion prior to installation. In the meantime I have started cutting the floor dividers in preparation for bottom fitting.

Bottom Side Up

Before the big turn over I had to cut and fit the transom baffle. This was aptly named because it had me baffled for quite a few hours. Cardboard templates, lots of measuring and cutting away bit by bit finally enabled it to be fitted in place. I'd say this was the hardest part I've had to do so far!

The baffling part

Baffle Fitted

With the baffle sorted out it was time for the big turn over.. This was easily accomplished by me and my son.

Bottoms Up

I proceeded to fit the port side Chine Log. All was going well, with the log almost in place, when disaster struck. There was a loud crack and the log split half way along it's length. As the break was a nice natural scarf, I decided to epoxy the 2 bits together and see if the log will bend into shape once the epoxy sets hard. The logs are half thickness and 2 parts will be laminated in place when fitted. I reckon that as long as I can get this log into place it will be more than strong enough when sandwiched between the 12mm hull outer and its inner partner. Time will tell. If it doesn't work I'll have to purchase some more timber and check more carefully for splits this time. Tomorrow I'll try fitting the Starboard log and see if we have any more success with that !

Sheer Strakes fitted

Today the Sheer Strakes were fitted and glued in position. Although not too difficult to fit, it was a nightmare taking them back out to add the glue. I had visions of being catapulted out of my shop as the strake springs back on release. Fitting after gluing was not much fun either. It was definitely a time to wear the disposable overalls as I ended covered in quite a bit of epoxy!

Now will the Chine logs go in with the same ease???

Wet Assembly complete.

Not much to say really. Lots of sweat but no blood or tears!

"Johanna" is no longer a kit of parts.

View Aft

Port Side View looking Aft

Port Side View looking Fwd

View Fwd

Ubiquitous shot taken through transom port!

Hull Assembly

I've done a lot of work over the last week. Last weekend I finished off all the bulkheads by cutting notches, limbers and finally coating in epoxy.

Today started with me drilling the hole for the drain in the mast foot. It all went relatively smoothly. There was one heart stopping moment when the drill bit detached from the extension and was left buried deep in the mast foot! Luckily I was able to re-attach it, and all turned out well in the end. I'm pleased with the result and my drain pipe fits like a glove.

After that I moved on to gluing the hull together. This was hard work and took a lot longer than I anticipated. I'm not finished yet, but the transom and Bulkheads 2, 3 and 4 are all glued and nailed in place. Bulkhead 2 and the stem are held with temporary fixings just to ensure that everything is square. Tomorrow I hope to finish off fitting these two outstanding items.

Getting set up for glue!

Bulkhead 3 in place.

Vent Trunk

The Vent Trunk may look straight forward but it actually involved quite a bit of work. All that remains now to drill the hole for the drain and complete the mast foot cut out. The later will wait for now, and I'll revisit it the future when I finish shaping my dummy mast foot.

I feel the time is getting close to gluing this baby together. I started work today to make it ready for final assembly but was unhappy about the stem bevels. I ended up spending a couple of hours shaving away some more wood and I'm happier now with the results.

Watch this space.